I first met Ed Currenti in the sheep yards at Mount Hesse, over more than 15 years we've stayed in touch and followed each others journeys closely. Ed is the General Manager at Prestige Foods, in our chat he shares his journey from a city upbringing to a successful career in agriculture and food production. He discusses the importance of mentorship, the role of education in understanding food sources, and the innovative practices at Prestige Foods. The conversation highlights the significance of building relationships within the industry, the challenges of managing teams, and the future opport ..read more

Joining us from his ute on top of a hill during a busy week of shearing is the 2025 Zanda McDonald Award winner from Australia, Jack O'Connor.  Jacko is the General Manager at his family mixed farming operation, Oxton Park. His career has seen him working on farms in developing countries such as Uganda, in the Head Office for Meat and Livestock Australia and now back home in Harden, NSW. In this chat we cover; The moment he found out he won the award from the shearing shed reflecting on his life-changing experiences in Uganda  The pride he has in the family business The community of ..read more

Maegen Blom is the Operations Manager within her family owned business Mills Bay Mussels. She is the 2025 Zanda McDonald Award winner from New Zealand, so we thought we would love to get to know a bit more about her and share it with you!  We cover: How she found out that she'd won, a bit more about the vertically integrated business selling direct to businesses and households, her role and passion for supporting and promoting the aquaculture industry in New Zealand and what the year ahead has in store ..read more

In this episode of Humans of Agriculture, host Oli Le Lievre sits down with fourth-generation pineapple farmer Bert Harris. From his family's century-long farming legacy in Queensland to the modern-day challenges of growing pineapples, dragon fruit, and pumpkins, Bert shares insights into the evolution of farming, his deep connection to the land, and the future of Australian agriculture. Highlights:  – Bert’s family has been growing pineapples for nearly 100 years, adapting to urban expansion and evolving farming techniques. – Labor shortages, unpredictable weather, and shifting market d ..read more

What does world-class gelato have to do with agriculture? A whole lot, as it turns out and a world of flavour! In this episode of Humans of Agriculture, host Oli Le Lievre sits down with Steve Arnold and Keegan Ryan from Gelato Messina, one of Australia's most iconic gelato brands. With over 30 stores across the country, Messina isn’t just about delicious scoops—it’s a vertically integrated food business, growing its own ingredients and sourcing directly from Australian farms. Steve, a former chef-turned-Director of Agriculture, shares how he transitioned from finance and property into farming ..read more

In this week of Humans of Agriculture we have the pleasure of catching Paul Niven. Paul has come back to Australia after a  long career working within China’s dairy industry. He’s a seasoned agricultural leader with a wealth of experience  agribusiness and international consulting. He paints a picture of how his small roots from growing up on a farm in Central New South Wales eventually lead to working in China’s rapidly evolving dairy industry. Paul provides unique insights into the challenges and opportunities of farming in China, the cultural adaptations required, and the lessons ..read more

For Liz, it was easy to fall for her now husband with their shared love of nature. It became their dream to purchase their first farm and test out a theory they had in Uni - that agriculture and conservation could live in harmony rather than conflict. In this episode of Humans of Agriculture, Oli Le Lievre sits down with Liz Blair to discuss how agricultural practices can reframe their relationship with the world around them. Liz grew up in Scotland before moving to Australia where she learned the value of sustainable farming. She and her husband have embraced a philosophy of land stewardship ..read more

Sharpen your knives and get ready to dig into this one! With just a few months out, six Aussies prepare to take on the world's meatiest competition in the World Butchers' Challenge. Oli sits down with Luke Leyson and Tom Bouchier, as they prepare to represent Australia at the World Butchers’ Challenge 2025 in Paris. Dubbed the "Olympics of Meat," this high-stakes competition sees teams from around the world showcase their butchery skills, creativity, and teamwork on a global stage. Luke and Tom share their journeys into butchery, the camaraderie and rivalries in the competition, and their insi ..read more

Welcome to part 3 of our mini-series on agricultural financing, partnered with Legacy Livestock. We wrap up our conversation Richard Brimblecombe, CEO of Legacy Livestock, by exploring the transformative role of livestock financing in modern agriculture and how innovative solutions are empowering Australian farming families. Richard shares his journey from cattle property life in Queensland to leading Legacy Livestock, a company dedicated to helping progressive producers unlock the full potential of their operations. From personalized financing options to navigating challenges like market vola ..read more

The three-generation curse. Perhaps you've heard this ominous phrase before. Farming families know the reality all to well that their land and careers are built over generations. So why is it so common to hear stories of how quickly all that hard work can become undone?  And is it possible to avoid this curse? In this episode of Humans of Agriculture, we sit down with Ben Law, a former financial advisor who had enough of the fluff and became "The Financial Bloke" and founder of AgriCoach. Ben shares growing up on a New South Wales cattle farm to build a successful financial advice practic ..read more